Sheldon Allan Silverstein(September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999), better known as Shel Silverstein, was an American poet, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of children's books. He called himself Uncle Shelby in his children's books. Translated into 20 languages, his books have sold over 20 million copies. He was born in Chicago. He began drawing at the age of 12, and tracing pictures of Al Capp. Shel Silverstein went to the Art Institute of Chicago. After one year he left the school. In 1957, he became one of the cartoonists in playboy, which sent him around the world to create an illustration travel journal with reports. During the 1950s and 1960s, he produced 23 installments called "Shel Silverstein Visits." His best cartoon of the 1950s was on the cover of his next cartoon collection, Now Here's My Plan. published by Simon & Schuster in 1960. Silverstein biographer Lisa Rogak. Silverstein had two children.His first child was daughter Shoshanna born June 30, 1970 with Susan Hastings. Susan Hastings died five years later, on June 29, 1975, in Baltimore Maryland.



Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein

Bear In There by Shel SilversteinThere's a Polar Bear
In our Frigidaire--
He likes it 'cause it's cold in there.
With his seat in the meat
And his face in the fish
And his big hairy paws
In the buttery dish,
He's nibbling the noodles,
He's munching the rice,
He's slurping the soda,
He's licking the ice.

And he lets out a roar
If you open the door.
And it gives me a scare
To know he's in there--
That Polary Bear
In our Fridgitydaire.

external image Polar+Bear.jpg